Serum antibodies against cytosol antigens in multiple sclerosis

The detection of brain antigens within the circulating immune complexes of patients with multiple sclerosis

Immune complexes isolated from sera of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) were analyzed for their antigenic content. Immune complexes precipitated with polyethylene glycol were inoculated into rabbits. The antisera raised were shown to react to MS and normal brain antigens by crossed immunoelectrophoresis, ELISA and nitrocellulose transfer. Additionally, these antisera reacted by co-precipitation with the measles nucleocapsid antigen. As persistent viral infection has not been shown to occur in MS, these studies support the possibility that brain antigens within the immune complex share antigenic determinants with a specific viral antigen seen earlier in life by the host.

Comparison of in vitro demyelination and cytotoxicity of humoral factors in multiple sclerosis and other neurological diseases

The distribution and nature of serum factors causing in vitro demyelination and glial lysis were investigated in multiple sclerosis (MS), other neurological diseases (OND), ill control and control groups. MS sera were unique in affecting only CNS myelin and glia whereas stroke and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) sera brought changes to both CNS and PNS tissue. Through both visual scoring of myelin damage and the quantitative measurement of radiolabel release from cerebellar cultures, it was evident that the MS and OND groups have similar myelino- and cytotoxic effects. This may reflect MS and OND sera sharing similar humoral factors. 74% MS, 68% OND and 22% of control scores were above a score threshold designed to exclude culture handling trauma effects. When classified by their current disease state MS patients with severe and mild disease yielded higher in vitro scores than did those with moderate disease who comprised an older age group. No other clinical features of MS patients gave any association with in vitro serum effects. The rare demonstration of bound Fab IgG in cultures after MS serum tests indicates that immune mechanisms are unlikely to make a large contribution to serum-induced demyelination and cellular change in vitro.

Abnormalities of serum and plasma components in patients with multiple sclerosis

Qualitative and quantitative abnormalities in protein and non-protein components of serum and plasma in patients with multiple sclerosis have been the subjects of numerous reports. In this review many of the more recent observations are documented and evaluated. It is concluded that at present the welter of information that has been gathered does not contribute in any major, coherent way to our understanding of the etiology or pathogenesis of the disorder. Several of the abnormalities that have been observed may be future candidates for biochemical markers for multiple sclerosis; at present none is sufficiently reliable, distinctive or easily performed to warrant the status of a useful diagnostic or prognostic test.